Should Sony Release Less Exclusive Games?

Push Square: "If variety is the spice of life, then the PlayStation 3 is a particularly posh brand of pepper. Arguably more than any other platform holder over the past five years, Sony has provided its system with a stream of high quality content. From big-budget blockbusters like Heavy Rain and Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune, to smaller endeavours such as Starhawk and Siren: Blood Curse. But with such a vast roster of releases in its catalogue, is the company spreading itself too thin? Indeed, would the Japanese giant be better off focusing on a few tent-pole titles as opposed to such a broad spectrum of content?"

No way. The smartest thing that Sony has done this gen is build up an army of successful first party series like Uncharted, LittleBigPlanet, inFamous, God of War, Killzone, Sly Cooper, Gran Turismo, etc. that not only is the reason why they were able to make the PS3 successful but also is why people are looking forward to the next PlayStation when this gen every third party developer wants to develop on every platform.

We all know third party exclusives are a thing of the past now, but it's the exclusives that ultimately define which console you want to get. Sony keeping it up next gen with all the exclusives will do great things for them next gen

Agreed. If I only played an Infamous, Uncharted, Little Big Planet, Kill zone, God of War, Ratchet n Clank title with a couple AAA 3rd party's in a year I'd be fine. I've gone frm playing tons of meh games to really getting I to the good ones and playing the hell out of them as a gamer. Quality over quantity.

We all want as many games to choose from as possible but those resources need to be funded somehow. When you spread yourself thin then certain games will get lost. We all know The Last of Us will get a ton of attention but that's offset by other games that don't get near the amount of attention. People paid good money for games like Twisted Metal but if those games don't get the support the online could be pulled or the support for new DLC or balance issues might not be there. I used Twisted Metal just as an example hypothetically.

I don't want to see companies run like Activision where they put most of their resources into one franchise and bleed it dry. I think Microsoft is doing the same with Halo and Forza. There are signs of Sony doing this as well with games like God of War. It all rests on the shoulders of consumers. If they don't buy unique games like Beyond and just want to keep buying Gran Turismo and God of War instead what do you expect? Sony can only keep taking so many chances before they too just focus on proven franchises. I wouldn't want to see that happen but that's the frailty of this business.

I agree they should keep bringing they out but at least space out the launch dates. Some of their games will come out within a week of each other and the big name title will take sales from lesser title.

Funny how before it was "the PS3 has no games, Sony needs to release more exclusives." Now people are starting to question if Sony releases to many, lol.

Sony should keep doing what they are doing. The reason why people keep saying that Sony should release less games is because they assume that every single one of them costs tens of millions dollars to make. If releasing so much games was really hurting their bottom dollar they would have slowed down production/releases long ago.

Well they actually did say that releasing so many games stretches their bottom marketing and ad focus. This could be the reason why so many folks here on N4G keep going to the "Sony doens't market enough" line.

Which I don't think is true since I see a lot of ads for Sony not to mention their Kevin campaign not too long ago. But it has been quoted.

And the reason "people" (people meaning N4G) are saying this is because a lot of their games are not appealing to the mass audience. Some of the titles may not cost tens of millions, but I'm sure they are in the million range and a million loss is still a million loss.

I wasn't talking about marketing. I was talking about people saying Sony can't afford to release too many games.

With that said, I don't recall seeing a Twisted Metal ad, nor a Starhawk ad, nor a Sorcery ad. I have seen ads for recent titles such as Battle Royale, LPK, and WonderBook however and not mention 3rd party games such as Need For Speed and Assassin's Creed III. I personally think that when Sony does actually advertize they should show actual gameplay. The Battle Royale ads I've seen have no gameplay in it whatsoever leaving the clueless wondering what the game is about.

***"And the reason "people" (people meaning N4G) are saying this is because a lot of their games are not appealing to the mass audience. Some of the titles may not cost tens of millions, but I'm sure they are in the million range and a million loss is still a million loss."***

If they aren't appealing to the masses then why should one expect the game to sell high amounts anyway? I don't think any game released this year for Sony was of high budget.

That is the way the modern gamer community is. They are confused. They complained about how few games PS3 had and harped on about how the 'PS3 haz no games'. Now that they went all out to prove that they can make a huge enough line up it's 'Sony could you make less games?'. Gamers,especially Sony gamers really don't know what they want.They are not happy unless they are complaining about something. They would prefer that Sony make less games to force you into buying those rather then giving you a wide selection.Look how antsy everyone got because most of Sony's best games are coming out next year.

"Gamers,especially Sony gamers really don't know what they want.They are not happy unless they are complaining about something. They would prefer that Sony make less games to force you into buying those rather then giving you a wide selection."

What in blue blazes are you talking about? Especially Sony gamers? I don't think so.

Your joke is meaningless considering Gears and Halo both outsell any Sony exclusive by themselves. Your attempt was an EPIC FAIL. Do your research first. It took Halo 4 less than a month to sell 4M. Halo franchise in itself has sold 50M. Please lets not go there. You can put all PS3 exclusives together and they will NEVER reach that number. I love PS3, but now your talking reckless and looking like a clown

KILLZONE 4 has a lot of option to be a amazing game specially in a new tech the PS4 but I will love to see first two games in a row for GG new IP and then KILLZONE 4 or maybe the new IP first KILLZONE 4 and fallow part two of the new IP maybe 3 games in 5 years will be ideal since it will take time to build and perfect the new engine(since GG now has two teams I will like GG to make a new Socom since they did nam 67' which is similar to Socom)

ND should do the same with TLOU continue the IP on the PS4 and maybe be a old IP remake (a new uncharted, SF, Socom"sony does really need to bring back socom back to glory") they should and also make 3 game sin 5 years.

Siren for the ps4 and let this same studio do a next gen extermination game, i don't understand how nobody or even sony have not thought about this great IP they own, and this japon studio is talented they should be working on this ips, they will sale good enough and maybe also give this studio Demon Souls XD ..

Give insomniac a chance to create a new IP? (or Resistance 4 only if they go to modern times) one every two and a half years and make sure it does not coincide with the same year that KILLZONE comes out. let them do a R&C but not as many as they did this gen it's annoying to see such a great devs waste time in that IP for kids no offence i know people love it but come on maybe one every 3 years is enough.

MotorStorm should be more real and xtream and less cartoon-ish. a game every two years should be good for racing games.

Santa Monica should keep doing GOW they are the best at that and maybe try a new IP?(they have two teams now!) and keep doing what they did this gen help other devs to make the games. (a game every two years to will be good enough from this team.

David Jeff should keep is mouth shut and create a new IP and be more humble (this guy do need this a lot) and if he fail to impress she should retired or make psn games.

Starhawk devs for me just suck at gameplay controls, their game feel cheap and arcade.I don't understand how some people say they are fun but let's be honest they are bad at it they have no ideas and their game are just fun for the few, some may hate me but its the true. They should be used to helps other devs in their multiplayer codes since that what they are good at.

MM go back to LBP in next gen. and create two new original IPs after that.

GT6 should have all cars premium no excuse on having cheap low res unfinished cars. 3 games prologe, gt6 and gt6 full speed or something like that.

Sucker Punch should create a new IP i will love that, inF was great but it's done, new IP from them is needed super powers open world like infamous but more wild original and exotic.. and create 2 games in 5 years.

Sony should absolutely make as many exclusive games as possible. If they relied more on 3rd party games they'd be farther behind Xbox than then already are. Third party games most always look, play, and perform better on the Xbox 360. Exclusives, however, help to mask the short coming of the ps3's miniscule ram and paltry rsx chip by being developed with the strenghts of the the ps3 soley in mine and not having to worry about trying to keep up with pc or Xbox 360 levels of fidelity. They'd better keep on making them exclusives for sure. I personally can't wait for the last of us. I'm really excited about that.

Yeah, their best games don't really get shoved in your face enough. I mean, they advertised the crap out of uncharted 3, but in the same year, resistance 3 (probably my favourite in the series) got hardly any attention, and as a result, sold poorly.